- March 12, 2025
The unemployment rate for Flagler County was 12.4% in August, according to a report released Sept. 21 by the Center for Business Excellence. This was the second-highest rate of unemployment in the state behind Hendry County.
Flagler's unemployment is down slightly from the 12.7% rate the county held in July. The statewide unemployment rate was at 9.4% for July and 9% for August.
Despite high unemployment, the Palm Coast metro area has seen job growth in two major sectors over the year: government, which has gained 200 jobs, and hospitality, which has gained 100, according to the report.
Officials at the CBE were unable to provide specific breakdowns of what these jobs were because job growth information is compiled by an office in Tallahassee that was unable to provide specific information, said Lou Paris, communications manager for the center.
However, Paris said the bulk of these jobs are probably from sectors such as social security, the Transportation Security Administration at the Flagler County Airport, and schools.
Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said there have been no significant hires within county offices aside from several grant-funded positions.
“We’ve downsized more than anything,” he said.
Paris said he believes one reason that Flagler County’s unemployment rates are so high is that its economy was swelled so much prior to the recession of 2008.
“Back then, Palm Coast was one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.,” he said. “It was to the point where people from overseas were even flocking to Flagler saying that buying houses would be a great investment.”
So when the economy collapsed, Flagler took a beating, Paris said.
“Long term, I think we’ll continue on an improvement trend, but it’s going to be slow,” he said. “The slope of improvement will be so flat that it’ll be hard to recognize on a small scale.”
Georgia Turner, vice president of tourist development at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, also said she couldn’t pinpoint where the growth in hospitality jobs came from, but said the tourism sector as a whole has been growing locally and nationally.
“Americans are staying true to their desire to travel,” Turner said. “Our tourism is rising, and we’re just part of the trend.”
Paris said he suspected that hospitality growth in Flagler County came largely from maintenance, housekeeping and beach vending jobs.
And though the economy is harsh, Paris applauded the members of the community who have been working to bring Flagler County back to a place of stability.
“It’s not a matter of if things get better; it’s a matter of when,” he said. “And based on what I’m hearing, Flagler will be better positioned to handle a downturn in the future.”
